477 Moving Forward

(Winona)

Lisa sits curled into the corner of her couch, her legs tucked beneath her and a blanket draped across her lap.

"So, one reading down, one to go," I say, setting two mugs on the coffee table and taking a seat in the armchair across from her. "Are you ready?"

She looks up, blinking like she's coming out of a daze. "Yeah, well... I don't think I can be there. It's still too much."

"Fair." I lean forward, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. "I know it's hard. But it's a start, you know? A start to getting on the other side of all this."

She shrugs.

"I'll be right by your side."

Lisa exhales slowly, tugging the blanket tighter. "It's just... everything. The way it happened. The way he let me in and really loved me for those few days. The way he left. And now this reading, like it's going to somehow tie up all the loose ends. But it won't, will it? Nothing changes that he's gone."

I nod, letting her words hang in the air for a moment. "No, it doesn't change that. But it might give you some clarity. Or at least something to hold onto."

Her laugh is short and bitter. "Clarity. Right. Like hearing whatever Lance decided to leave behind will somehow make it all better."

"Have you watched the USB yet?" I ask gently.

quickly. "No. I'm not ready.

shift in my seat, watching her carefully. "Why

makes any of this okay? He's still gone, Winona. He still made that choice, no matter what's on that stupid video clip." I let

there was nothing I could've done, because I

he loved you, in his own way. But he was carrying something so much heavier than either of us could have imagined. That's

he'd talked to me.

be able to do that for him it was you. And you did. He chose you to open up with at the end. Not anyone else. That counts for

the couch, sitting beside her and pulling her into a hug. She resists

a while, the room silent except for the occasional

you?" she asks, her voice shaky. "How are you after... Judy's

felt like a final dig, as if she couldn't

head. "Oh, you know. Telling me to stay with Jayden only if I really think it's worth it, not to spite her.

it

but that's

else. Jayden's been

1.n

us. About our problems. It's like

tell

me. "Do you want him to say

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